Casey Affleck to Write and Star in Supernatural Thriller ‘Villain’

Swedish helmer Mikael Marcimain will direct.

Casey Affleck gave a critically acclaimed performance in “Manchester by the Sea,” putting him in the race for a Best Actor Oscar nomination. While the film doesn’t arrive in theaters until November 18, the actor is already setting up his next projects.

Per Deadline, Affleck will star in the upcoming supernatural thriller “Villain,” based on a script he wrote. Directed by Swedish helmer Mikael Marcimain, the story follows a man who develops a unique power to see into people’s past, present and future after a home invasion leaves his family dead and two bullet lodged in his head. Using his new powers, he goes on a mission to seek revenge on the man who killed his family and in the process become the city’s new vigilante. Though on his quest for justice, his arrival as the city’s much-needed hero may be the announcement of its most prolific villain.

Teddy Schwarzman and Ben Stillman will produce via Schwarzman’s Black Bear Pictures banner, along with Affleck. Sierra/Affinity is handling international sales for the project at the American Film Market.

Marcimain’s credits include directing episodes of “The Grave,” “The Laser Man” and the Netflix miniseries “Gentlemen & Gangsters,” among others. His directorial feature debut “Call Girl” won the International Critic’s Award at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. His last film was the 2014 romance thriller “Gentlemen.”

Affleck recently starred in “The Finest Hours” and “Triple 9” and can next be seen in the Oscar contender “Manchester by the Sea.” The actor is also set to star in the TV miniseries “Lewis and Clark” and David Lowery’s “The Old Man and the Gun.”